Chilean flame creeper on retreat in Bowmans Bush
Years of work by a dedicated few have seen a significant reduction of Chilean flame creeper in the QEII National Trust property, Bowmans Bush, on Ruru Ave in Otatara. As well as casual walkers pulling the weed as they enjoy a stroll through the bush, an annual working bee, now organised by Randall Milne, Environment Southland, in conjunction with the Otatara Landcare Group, has made considerable inroads into this pest plant. With the understory freed from the smothering creeper, there is a denseness coming to the bush, restricting the light wells that this weed so likes. As many landowners around Otatara know, persistence does pay with this weed. Although there is no easy chemical control, continuous annual pulling does a lot to help control this insidious weed.
Posted on: Monday, 5 March 2012